The Detroit Lions and the wide receiver position have a long, strange history.

So much so that when the Lions pick a wide receiver anywhere in the draft, their fans tend to roll their collective eyes - and with good reason.

The last two NFL Drafts, the Lions, despite screaming defensive needs, selected wide receivers Titus Young and Ryan Broyles in the second round. Young showed promise and then decided to play the lead role in "Mutiny on the Bounty."

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The Lions drafted Broyles, one of the most productive college receivers of all time at Oklahoma, despite a serious knee issue. Just as that knee got healthy, and Broyles appeared to be coming into his own, he hurt his other knee.

Remember Charles Rogers? He was perhaps the worst second overall pick in NFL Draft history, particularly when it is considered potential Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Johnson was third overall that very year.

How about the year Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN NFL Draft expert, had Mike Williams the top-rated player on his board. Yet, Williams kept dropping to the Lions at 10th overall - and they took him. Williams, whose work habits were deplorable, redefined the "wide" part in wide receiver to mean literally.

This isn't just about the first two rounds, though. Later round receivers seldom stick with the Lions, players such as third-rounder Derrick Williams, fifth-rounder Kenneth Moore or seventh-rounder Tim Toone in recent drafts. Remember Scotty Anderson? Oh, you wanted to forget. It's understandable.

But in the midst of all this angst about Lions' draft failures at wide receiver, it should be noted when the Lions have hit at the position, it has been big. Calvin Johnson is arguably the best non-quarterback in the NFL. Johnnie Morton not only has never met a mirror he didn't like, he was also a consistent 1,000-yard receiver with an exceptional work ethic. Herman Moore's considerable accomplishments have tended to dim with time. That's a shame. He was an exceptional player, who was overshadowed by the sheer greatness of Barry Sanders. Germane Crowell was pretty good - until he hurt his knee.

And so the NFL Draft is about a month away. Among the list of Lions' needs: Wide receiver. Again.

This is a not to suggest the Lions draft a wide receiver in the first two rounds. Given their remaining issues defensively, that would be insane. But starting in the third round, they should seriously consider it.

The Lions need a threatening receiver opposite Johnson to fully take advantage of the double-coverage he merits.

The good part is the Lions should be able to find a wide receiver in this draft within the first four rounds, who can help them now. The landscape of football has changed. The passing schemes are not only much more sophisticated in college than they used to be, but also at the high school level.

In a dream world, DeAndre Hopkins of Clemson falls to the Lions in the third round because he ran just a 4.5 at the combine. Wishful thinking? Perhaps.

Kenny Stills from Oklahoma and Ryan Swope from Texas A&M improved their draft status because they blistered sub 4.4 40 times at the combine. But here is fair warning: The NFL is not necessarily a track meet. The idea is to find football players, tough ones who are hungry and, maybe, have a chip on their shoulder.

A player who I think is intriguing is wide receiver Steadman Baily from West Virginia. I thought he was a better player than Tavon Austin, his college teammate, who blistered his 40-time at the combine.

He is bigger than Austin, ran a solid 4.5 40 at the combine and has great hands and instincts for the position.

Bailey is being projected as a third-round pick, but in my opinion, he will be a better NFL player than many of the receivers taken ahead of him.

The urgency the Lions feel to draft a wide receiver might be based on the health of Broyles and veteran Nate Burleson, who they are bringing back at a reduced salary after he broke his leg last season.